Central Market Records (Geneva), 1902-1977 | Northern Illinois University

The Central Market was a mainstay of the Geneva, Illinois business community from 1895 until early 1979.  O.P. Johnson and Henry Sandholm purchased the market at 121 W. State Street in November of 1895.  Known as the Sandholm and Johnson Meat Market, it was renamed the O.P. Johnson Central Meat Market in 19)0 when Johnson became sole owner.  Axel Peterson became a partner in 1917, and a year later the market moved to 209 W. State Street where it was located until its demise in 1979.  O.P. Johnson retired in 1935; his son, Ira Johnson, and Leslie Danielson became co-owners then and operated the store thereafter.

The Central Market is best known for its Swedish ethnic origin and connections.  Ira Johnson’s ancestors were part of the massive influx of Swedish immigrants to America in the nineteenth century.  In 1895 approximately one half of the population of Geneva was of Swedish origin; the Eastern side of town was well known as the Swedish section of the community.  Geneva had its own lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars and has formally celebrated Swedish Day since June 1925 when the Good Templar Park was completed.  O.P. and Ira Johnson were part of the ethnic Swedish business community that sought to cater to immigrants and their descendants.  At first the market specialized in meat and fish.  Employees took weekly trips to Chicago to personally select the fish, and orders were taken from and deliveries made to homes in the Geneva area.  Gradually other products were added to the store’s stock.  A prominent businessman, Ira Johnson has also served in various county and township administrative offices since 1931.  The market was accidently destroyed early in 1979 when an adjacent building collapsed, severely damaging it.